Peter Bellwood (1939–2025) was many things — screenwriter, satirist, collaborator, mischief-maker, and one of the great characters in Ojai’s creative community.
After rising through the English Satire Boom of the 1960s, performing alongside Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, and writing the cult classic Highlander, Peter moved to Ojai in 1993 to escape the L.A. riots. He quickly became part of the valley’s daily rhythm — the wit in the corner of the Coffee Connection, the conspirator behind countless theater projects, and a friend whose generosity and curiosity seemed endless.
In this memorial episode, a tapestry of voices gathers to celebrate the man who filled so many lives with laughter, wonder, and stories:
Malcolm McDowell, who knew Peter since the 1960s and remained a dear friend throughout his life
Mark Lewis, journalist and chronicler of Peter’s remarkable journey
Jerry Dunn, reflecting on Peter’s remarkable generosity and creativity
Kim Maxwell, who collaborated with Peter on stage projects at Theater 150
Tom Miller, sharing a London voicemail about Peter’s lifelong influence
Jon Furness, proprietor of the Coffee Connection, where Peter held court daily
JB White and Jim Lashly, founders of Household Gods and longtime creative partners
Together, they paint a portrait of a man who lived fully in the realm of imagination — and who made Ojai brighter, funnier, and more alive merely by being here.
Hosted by Bret Bradigan, this episode is not a eulogy but a celebration of a singular life, lived entirely in stories.
